1 week Ago
SANTA CRUZ — Community members from across Santa Cruz County gathered in San Lorenzo Park Saturday to enjoy live music, free food and activities at the second annual Day in the Park event, hosted by San Lorenzo Park Neighbors, Shared Adventures, San Andreas Regional Center, Urban Works Santa Cruz and Living Evolution.“We’ve got even more going on this year,” said Mark Wenzler, president and co-founder of San Lorenzo Park Neighbors. “There’s going to be a circus act and we have a few different musical performances and activities.
It’s great. I still think there is a need to create a positive vision for the park. It’s our neighborhood park and I want everyone to feel good when they come here and I think that events like this help.
”The second annual Day in the Park event in San Lorenzo Park featured family-friendly activities, live music and free burgers and hot dogs. (Aric Sleeper – Santa Cruz Sentinel)The nascent yearly tradition serves as a celebration of Autism Acceptance Month and is an inclusive environment for people with disabilities to come together, listen to music, grab a burger and enjoy San Lorenzo Park.“What’s great about this year is that we are collaborating with two new partners, Urban Works and Living Evolution,” said Shared Adventures founder Foster Andersen.
“They’ve helped to organize and brought new activities like the trapeze artists and we have more resource tables and booths so the community can see what’s out there.”Urban Works Executive Director Katie Gentile and her team from the local nonprofit, which organizes fun activities and programs for people with disabilities, brought an aerial rig and silks to the Day in the Park event Saturday.“We have circus performers who can teach all people of all abilities to do some fun circus acrobatics, and we have adaptive yoga happening and art classes,” said Gentile.
“We really enjoy partnering with like-minded organizations to make the entire community thrive. When we all work together, everything is enhanced and more fun and it feels more like a big community.”A unique tandem bike was available to ride through San Lorenzo Park during the second annual Day in the Park event Saturday.
(Aric Sleeper – Santa Cruz Sentinel)Returning as a Day in the Park sponsor and organizing partner was the San Andreas Regional Center, which serves people with disabilities in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties. The center had staff on hand to tell people about their services and upcoming community events.“We serve all ages of people with disabilities,” said San Andreas Regional Center Service Coordinator Marissa Orgoglio.
“We provide day programs, job support and coaching, housing support, respite care and early start programs. The most important part is giving people the skills to live the life they want to live.”Although the event started with a downpour, singers and musicians from the New Hope Band sang the rain away from the Duck Island Stage with a set of upbeat songs including “My Girl” and “Do You Believe in Magic.
”“Playing music really gives them a lot of confidence,” said Eddie Resendes, whose daughter Emma is a singer in the New Hope Band. “They all love it. It’s my daughter’s favorite thing to do.
She’s been doing this for about 10 years.”Co-founder of San Lorenzo Park Neighbors, Mark Wenzler, gives parkgoers a rundown of the day’s events Saturday. The annual Day in the Park celebration started with a downpour but the skies cleared after noon.
(Aric Sleeper – Santa Cruz Sentinel)Daryl Wise with Shared Adventures mentioned that the event takes months of preparation, but it all becomes worth it when he sees everyone having fun in the park.“I think there are double the people here this year,” said Wise. “Events like this really make a difference and it’s great to see the energy and the people and the community come out and enjoy the park.
”Former director of Save Our Shores and the O’Neill Sea Odyssey Dan Haifley was enjoying the Day in the Park event with his wife Rebecca and their daughter Julia.“We’ve known Foster for many years and Julia has gone to many Shared Adventures events,” said Haifley. “Shared Adventures works very hard to organize inclusive activities for everybody and we really appreciate it.
My daughter gets to have a community this way.”Wenzler added that the staff from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department were a great help and that he hopes the Day in the Park tradition continues next year.“We want the park to be a place for everyone,” said Wenzler.
“It’s a great spot to gather but I think it still has a reputation that it’s not welcoming. So that’s why it’s important to get people out here to see that it’s an excellent resource and a great place to spend your time.”.
